Tuesday, October 26, 2010

What the hughes Project is...

The Hughes Project .

The list of the project:

1. Recycle Historical Down Town inner city Building on Galveston island : It meets our needs for living and work , gives us the want to recycle a historic building. Fulfills our cravings of “ one day we want to do that” when we saw warehouses and fire station type buildings being restored or converted into homes. Helps bring economy and build Galveston Island, a place where we grew up and loved coming out to several times a week by filling an empty building, bringing a higher property tax out of the building once restored. An economy of business . An economy of a more thriving down town. An economy of jobs in the future. Providing a service to the island that was needed. An economy of two more people with three large dogs that spend money on the island , eventually children for the schools and so forth. Also with this blog we hope to bring more recognition that the regular person can do green living in the city as well as bring publicity to Galveston Island in the after math of Hurricane Ike. In 2010 we even made the 2010 census in time to try and get the islands numbers where they needed to be, even if they did fall short. Also the island of Galveston provided us with small town community where we can get involved and be a part of our community and neighborhood without getting lost . We will live upstairs and work down stairs. We originally tried doing this with no loan debts but am currently working on a loan to move forward a bit faster.

2. Bring a self sustaining gardening project to the inner city to raise awareness that it can be done , it can be done by a regular couple, it can be done not only in the city but in the down town of the city and on a small island. The roof top we are working at putting eventually a 2000 square foot green house ( of course tinted, insulated as needed as well as hurricane proof). The eventual 2000 square foot second story porch off the back yard will hold much vegetation. All plants will be edible. The 3000 square foot back yard will provide space for barrel compost ( easy to contain, maintain and keep clean) as well as low light plantings. The space at the side of the building will allow for all kinds of mushrooms and potatoes. The 22 upstairs windows will have hanging planters out each one to add to the use of space. The original style awning will be put back on the front of the building to also lend more space to a breakfast seating area outside the eventual kitchen as well as herbs garden space. This adds up to over 6000 square feet of actual nearly all above ground self sustaining garden potential. Our goal is to grow all of our own vegetation and even be able to eventually sell if we ever are that good at a green thumb. My idol in this is a man in California that I started following several years ago who started on a tiny lot and used a lot of imagination to feed his entire family off what he could grow. Eventually I want chickens for fresh eggs and am toying with the goat idea for cheese, milk, soaps to make and so forth but also know of a goat farmers in Sante Fe not too far so it’s a possibility and I do know the work it takes but we will see. This in itself will be a full time up keeping job and I will post blogs, articles and video as well as host classes to promote this activities of victory gardens, self sustaining and being able to do this right in the city. Since one of my back yard views is of the Deborah’s garden on 25th street, one of Galveston’s community gardens…I feel I am in the right spot.

3. Build a 2000 square foot porch off the back of the building to expand garden and outdoor living area. We are not out to live totally simply. We want a hot tub…we work hard physically as is our jobs and both suffer from past injuries. It helps keep us moving more and is simply nice to enjoy. We want outside living area and have already planned a movie night to project onto the wall the sides one side . We plan to mosquito screen in the outside as we know someone who did a two story same sized backyard in this. Darn those bugs! However , hate to say it…it’s also pigeon control too as there are so many diseased birds dyeing here all the time and our dogs can always get them…..We will include a full outdoor kitchen to provide an entertainment area as well as keep some hot cooking outside at times…..my only thought on that is how much I wish to be in the heat outside to do the cooking but in order to keep those a/c bills down…ones gotta look back to the old ways and well, it’s better than a hot house kitchen. This will also help us never to outgrow this living area however as well, providing space for our large dogs and future children, family events and friends entertainment.

4. The ground floor of the 3000 square foot back yard. We will use the dirt areas for plant growth as well as barrel compost , a wood pile for an eventual wood stove that we will use for heating and even ability to drive into the building through the back and / or park. When Michael needs to load of unload materials it is done through here rather than through the front of the building and so on.
This yard also holds the outdoor stone walled shower and toilet area which we currently have put in use with temporary fix ups. Soon the jambs will be built, doors installed, lighting one day flooring that we prefer and still deciding on the roofing. This provides a shower off place for after the beach, bathing the dogs and client restroom and currently all we have as of September….before that we didn’t even have that!

5. The upstairs…wow, our living . Our home. Well this 3000 square feet of space is certainly home in my mind and has been since the second I stepped foot in it.

* The plan ( Scanned below some of our drawings we did ourselves ) is to re-floor over what is there ( needed) with doors being thrown out at a big company in Houston that we order much of our materials from currently and where these doors are thrown out because of bowing issues and warping issues at times. We are purchasing them for about $10 a piece and pulling apart the panels, cutting them each in half width wise to create double the amount of wood, then planed down though they will still be incredibly thick pieces to lay down for flooring. We figured we needed 100 doors for this, we are taking on 150 just in case. We will lay down moister barrier paper and so forth as we have to sound proof what we can as well as keep dust from down stairs out and fumes too even though we use low and no toxic/voc materials. In all we predict we will spend $3,000 on 3000 square feet of hard wood flooring.

* The power must be run….we already have conduit all set and so will run the wiring. We are also designing all of our light fixture needs and will use all lighting from nautical lighting in our old shipping warehouse and to help give a more island effect in décor from Galveston’s own Nautical Antiques on mechanic Street which will be well over 100 lighting pieces altogether and also provide island economy and help the young couple who own the shop , helping local business owners. Also upon finishing and opening our place for tours during loft tours as well as articles, blogs and videos perhaps giving people ideas on reusable items such as these and encouraging local private owner shopping and if anywhere near Texas than her eon Galveston Island as well.

* We are putting in fans and an a/c in industrial style looks and are currently studying the types however that will be a couple of years off and even then we want to use it minimally .

* Our heat will be wood burning stoves which I will then make tea and soups on while in use helping make double use of it but also it will be used minimally as well however we will have two, shown below in the plans.

* We will use recycled doors we have collected over the years for our walls as well as transoms from torn down houses on the island Keeping an open loft style effect without covering all the rooms or running them to the ceilings except the bathrooms. In this we will have recycled 100 doors, the floors will have been 150 doors. Keeping these out of the landfills and giving them use, keeping our costs down and not putting in sheetrock at all. Also giving a touch of fun and our creativity to the loft.

* Our living room will be raised to provide storage space underneath though we want to keep things needing storage minimal there are still holiday items and whatnot to put away. There will be 2 feet high and about 30x30 space. The living room underneath the front window will also have a long window box providing storage as well as extra seating and be comfortable all around and ready to entertain friends.

* Our office will be open and partner style desk set up ( desks made of recycled doors once again) providing an open area working space. Just off the living room .

* The kitchen is in redesign from our original idea ( it’s what happens as you spend more time mulling over things) the original is what is shown in the drawing below. I want a large open easy to entertain and make all the home cooked items and baked that I want to as well as eventually will be able to get back to preparing my own dogs foods and also canning and freezing and prepping all that comes from the garden to last all year. An easy step to the front awning to a breakfast and herb garden and an easy access to the back porch and stairs leading to the rooftop green house and the downstairs ground floor garden.

* rebuild the awning where we will also have a smaller garden area .

* Make use in between buildings for low light food gardening and hanging baskets will be put to use.

* Off the kitchen will be a decent sized pantry, then a laundry room then master bathroom, closet and master bedroom. Across from that guest and future kids room , closet and bathroom then open sitting and library area for all my love of books that is also capable of being a third bedroom if ever needed. Then you meet back with the open office.

The down Stairs:

* Michael’s shop for Classic Morris Door Restoration. For supplies and inventory storage as well as repair work in shop instead of on site as our company does both. Door building and more this will be the right back side. ( drawing below). We brought our business to the island and moved ourselves keeping our economy on the island to work and live. We will also be hosting classes , apprentice ships and providing future jobs.

* The front right hand side will host Classic Morris Store front. A place where a customer can come and meet the company, see door related items for sale, learn about services, book needs and so forth. A display where doors, finish and color samples and hardware will eventually be.

* The left hand side of the ground floor is planned to eventually house a family owned and operated wooden sailboat building school and offer sailboat sales as well. Bringing a lost art of wooden sailboats to the island.

We will be using windpower, solor power , water power and water collection. Grow a self sustaining garden and use energy safe appliances. We will also of course, recycle=)

We wish this to be a home for us that fits our wants and desires and needs and heart yearnings to make a small footprint but big impression. We hope to provide a learning tool for others to do the same or similar projects. We hope to bring light to Galveston Islands many virtues and bring economy.

Hmmm….I am sure I missed something but many blogs to come!

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